Schools Outreach
STEM Challenge Day
Year 9 pupils from schools around the northwest enter a competition to share their enthusiasm for STEM subjects, whilst meeting scientists undertaking innovative world-leading research here at Lancaster. Schools who register to attend bring a team of 12 pupils (3 for each of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) to compete against others in the region, over a range of fun and interactive challenges.
The challenges change each year, but in previous years pupils have been put to the test making iodine clocks, building hologram-like projection stages using iPads, designing and firing bottle rockets and making precision measurements.
Places are limited and the day is aimed specifically at students in Year 9 and it is advised to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Winning teams will be awarded prizes, and the overall winning school will be presented the Simon Martindale Shield, and £250 of library vouchers for their school. For more information, please contact outreach@lancaster.ac.uk.
Teacher INSET Days
Teachers can gain valuable insight into STEM subjects by spending an INSET day at Lancaster University.
These days take place during the October school INSET day and provide teachers from South Lakes Federation schools (SLF) schools with the opportunity to explore Lancaster University departments and gain hands-on experience of cutting edge research techniques, whilst also allowing time to discuss the school curriculum and how changes can be made.
SLF School teachers can visit Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology departments and gain hands-on experience of cutting edge research techniques, whilst also allowing time to discuss the school curriculum and how changes can be made.
In October 2013 Lancaster’s Faculty of Science and Technology hosted their first INSET Days for 15 science teachers from secondary schools in SLF to develop mechanisms for future engagement between teachers and researchers. Following on from the first event in 2013, this event became more popular in October 2014 with 36 teachers and again in October 2015 with 56 teachers attending.
“It gives us a real buzz out of coming here, it isn’t just educationally focused, it's focused on us as well I’ve been learning about [topic] today, and I think I’m going to use that when I’m teaching this, it’s going to be a better experience for my students, it feels it’s more centred on us, on our education, and inspiring us again about our subject which I think is really important”.
“I was surprised about the eye tracker because it was a Psychology presentation … learning something completely different which is refreshing, teachers are usually thinking within their own subject, whereas this is something we can add to their experience, something extra which can be linked in some way to enhance the curriculum and teaching and learning”.